Devotionals Daily: A Year with Jesus - August 3

WATCH YOUR WORDS DILIGENTLY. Words have such great power to bless or to wound. When you

speak carelessly or negatively, you damage others as well as yourself. This ability to verbalize is an awesome privilege, granted only to those I created in My image. You need help in wielding this mighty power responsibly.

Though the world applauds quick-witted retorts, My instructions about communication are quite different: Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow tobecome angry. Ask My Spirit to help you whenever you speak. I have trained you to pray—“Help me, Holy Spirit”—before answering the phone, and you have seen the benefits of this discipline. Simply apply the same discipline to communicating with people around you. If they are silent, pray before speaking to them. If they are talking, pray before responding. These are split-second prayers, but they put you in touch with My Presence. In this way, your speaking comes under the control of My Spirit. As positive speech patterns replace your negative ones, the increase in your Joy will amaze you.

Parents look in a lot of different places for guidance in how to influence their kids for Christ – church, school, or close relatives. These can all be helpful, but there's a better place to begin…you. Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord and Building Family Ties with Faith, Love, & Laughter share practical tips from Dave's experience as a father of three and pastor to add faith and fun to the heart of your family.